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July 4, 2008
Think it's easy to form a union? Think again • Students replace full-time Portland school custodians • Workers at Vancouver Hilton Hotel get first contract with UNITE HERE Local 9 • Legal settlement returns union organizer to bakery
June 20, 2008
Experienced mixer adds 'salt' to nonunion bakery • Film crew documents postal security breaches by Beaverton contract carrier • Big choices ahead devising health care plan to cover all Oregonians • Bargaining continues for first contract at Vancouver Hilton • Carpenters strike Robinson construction
June 6, 2008
Retired Labor Press editor and columnist Gene Klare dies • Latest anti-union ads target Jeff Merkley • UNITE HERE Local 9 gets contract at Portland Hilton • Sizemore held in contempt of court • Union-built Cascade Grain ethanol plant up and running • Building trades unions say: "Enough talk. Build the bridge now" • Steelworkers ratify new contract at Cascade Steel • ATU gets tentative deal at Bend Transit • Labor agency suspends 'Helping Hands' program • Union backing makes difference in state and federal races • Obama wins Oregon Democratic primary • Building trades endorsements get mixed results • Labor-backed candidates do well in Portland metro area
May 16, 2008
ILWU shuts ports on May Day to protest war • Initiatives dogged by suspicions • How time flies: Building trades council turns 100 • Union members don't just vote — they run for office • Machinists, Boeing open contract talks • Steelworkers tentative deal at Cascade Steel Rolling Mills may unravel • Bend newspaper spurns union ad supporting bus drivers • Alliance for Retired Americans keeps retirees current • Labor agency suspends 'Helping Hands' program
May 2, 2008
Union adversary Bill Sizemore poised for comeback • Three union-friendly Democrats in running for Oregon secretary of state • Lifelong union activist Michael Dembrow campaigns hard for House seat • AFT turns up heat in nurse union campaign at Legacy • City of Portland workers get chance to help elect their own bosses • Connie Ashbrook: Bringing women to the trades • Classified employees ratify four-year contract at Portland School District • Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council backs several local candidates
April 18, 2008
Labor will honor workers killed on the job • Oregon hashing out details of universal health insurance requirement • NAFTA-style deal with Colombia taken off fast track • Asbestos continues to sicken, kill U.S. workers • War protest May 1 could shut down ports • Bus drivers' union steers industry toward healthier workplace • Proposed Worker Memorial slowed by hefty fee requirement • Highly profitable steel mil asks workers to take wage freeze • Plumbers apprentice coordinator Bob Kimes retires; Mike Pollock will succeed him
April 4, 2008
Boycott of downtown Portland Hilton picks up steam • National health care may be on the horizon • Colombia Free Trade Agreement expected to get vote in Congress • AFL-CIO issues endorsements in races for attorney general and U.S. Congress • Building trades union council endorses Gordon Smith in primary • Northwest Oregon Labor Council supports Sam Adams for Portland mayor • In race for Oregon attorney general, labor on both sides • Card-check union campaigns aren't flooding Oregon with new members • Kitzhaber asks unions to help reform U.S. health care system • Working America expands in Oregon • Elevator Constructors Local 23 returns Regalado to top leadership position
March 21, 2008
Gardner resigns as labor commissioner; governor appoints Brad Avakian • IBEW launches union campaign at Comcast • Union electricians, contractors come to the aid of family of fallen soldier • Portland school board members show true colors in contract vote • Oregon AFSCME backs Obama • Promoting 'green collar' jobs is focus of LERC's new STAR Fund
March 7, 2008
Union helps students train for robotics competition • Postal workers say mail is being processed without anthrax-sniffing machines • Oregon's special legislative session wraps up with only minor achievements • U.S. trade deficit with China zooms • Building Trades charter school will open this fall • Grocery, meat workers wrap up more contracts • Portland Public Schools bus drivers ratify contract • Bakers Local 114 holds job fair for nonunion crew • Part-time PSU profs get
February 15, 2008
OSEA joins American Federation of Teachers • Portland Public Schools backs off hardline stance • Labor has short agenda for legislative session in Salem • AFL-CIO backs mortgage reforms • Labor ally Hooley to leave Congress • Underpaid professors plan to picket PSU • LERC to celebrate 30th anniversary March 7 • Labor battling in Washington Legislature — sometimes with Democrats • Law tilts against unions, but labor can't give up fight
February 1, 2008
Portland Public Schools sticks to draconian offers • Union membership on the rise; Oregon adds 16,000, Washington 30,000 • Task force favors I-5 Bridge replacement • Apollo Alliance maps strategy for '09 Legislature • Washington labor turns attention to Olympia • Eugene/Springfield grocery workers ratify new pacts • CWA calls for boycott of Unitus Credit Union • ATU 757 calls off ambulance strike in Josephine County • BOLI survey will evaluate HVAC testing, balancing work • Three Carpenters locals endorse John Kroger for attorney general
January 18, 2008
Unions favor building a new bridge over Columbia • Northwest members of Congress score well in national AFL-CIO ratings • Oregon AFL-CIO leader, back from Bali, says it's time for labor to step up • Laborers Union gets health insurance for City of Portland seasonal workers • ATU Local 757 members ready to strike AMR in Josephine County
January 4, 2008
2008: The year of China • Foster kids' holiday party gets boost from UA Local 290
December 21, 2007
ILWU, Carpenters boost Fire Fighters Toy & Joy program • AFSCME strike at Multnomah Education Service District ends after two weeks • Help extended to storm-ravaged union families on coast • Oregon Fire Fighters Council endorses Gordon Smith • AFL-CIO calls for Hilton boycott • UA Local 290 to host robotics competition kickoff • Iron Workers Local 29 elects officers
December 7, 2007
Looking for the UNION LABEL • Multnomah ESD classified staff go on strike Nov. 30 • Portland school employees getting restless • UNITE HERE Local 9 calls for Hilton boycott • Unions join nationwide protest against anti-union NLRB • Oregon AFL-CIO's Byrd to attend climate change conference in Bali • Labor has voice on panel examining Oregon's tax system • NLRB Subregion 36 gets new chief officer • Fahey to run for seat on Portland City Council • Judy O'Connor, Bob Petroff re-elected at NOLC • Teamsters' Lehrbach appointed to TriMet Board of Directors • IBEW 48 member named to State Transportation Commission • AFT Local 111 elects new president
November 16, 2007
Craft unions welcome veterans into training programs • AFSCME backs Clinton despite Western leaders' call for no early endorsement • Oregon board finds Josephine County used outsourcing to punish strikers • Hit-and-run driver kills Eugene labor activist • Mesothelioma claims UA's Deblock, 73
November 2, 2007
AFL-CIO rates Oregon lawmakers on 2007 session • Powell's Books workers get closer to living wage • ConMetco's Rivergate plant closes • Schneider to run for Gresham Council • Washington AFL-CIO issues election recommendations • Madelyn Elder named to CWA Executive Board • SEIU's Dale won't run for AG post • SEIU locals endorse John Edwards
October 19, 2007
Oregon AFL-CIO ramps up for aggressive Labor 2008 • Edwards tells labor he'll be a true friend as president • Kucinich says he'd pull out of NAFTA • Immigration reform, drug testing spark the most debate at convention • Delegates set policy with resolutions • Activists and unions get recognition • PPS superintendent, board members tour schools • IBEW instructor returns from duty in Iraq • AFSCME Local 88 members ratify four-year contract at Multnomah County
October 5, 2007
Conversion to renewable energy generating jobs • Metro councilors vote themselves 16 percent raises • SEIU leader considers run for attorney general • U.S.-Peru trade pact gets mixed reaction from labor • Steelworkers target Home Depot stores in solidarity with striking B.C. workers • School custodian gets settlement check, but not closure • UFCW backs Merkley for Senate • Kucinich, Edwards will pay visit to Oregon AFL-CIO convention
September 21, 2007
Sweeney, Edwards will headline Oregon AFL-CIO convention • Labor Council opposes tax-funded day labor center • Disabled worker programs act as a wedge for privatization • New group formed for union members who like to hunt and fish • Fire Fighters use new card-check law to secure union • Maintenance workers ratify new pact with Portland Schools by one vote • Farra elected secretary-treasurer of Transit Union Local 757 • Oregon AFL-CIO endorses Measures 49,50
September 7, 2007
Senator Smith makes effort to court labor • Oregon will release names of employers whose workers get low-income benefits • Health care mandate for construction workers? Portland takes baby steps • Panel will measure use of academic part-timers • City of Portland pledges to buy no sweatshop apparel • AFSCME reaches tentative deal for 4,000 state workers • Meeting in Newport, building trades unions savor legislative victories • Carpenters organizer allowed to leave U.S. on his own • Labor Democrats back Merkley for Senate
August 17, 2007
Pulse of the Unions • Labor to keep pushing for freedom to unionize • Circuit City lands on AFL-CIO's Do Not Patronize list • School employees vote on affiliation with AFT • Oregon AFL-CIO E-Board rejects 2005 resolution supporting Kyoto Protocol • Enron workers case may reach high court • Hardhats want Pepsico to be built by local workers • CWA Local 7901 reaches stalemate with local credit union
August 3, 2007
Union-built gas-fired power plant goes online in Oregon • Construction unions seek level playing field on health care • As cases of 'popcorn workers lung' spread, unions demand action • Postal service unions pitch vote-by-mail to top elections officers • New IBEW Local 48 business manager outlines goals and priorities
July 20, 2007
Machinists end strike, sign three-year deal at Freightliner • Major victory for labor: Democratic House torpedoes trade deals • Construction unions voice support for liquefied natural gas terminal • Letter carriers' new pact may slow outsourcing • Lawmakers nibble around the edges trying to fix health care • Labor planning ballot measure strategy to counter Sizemore
July 6, 2007
Machinists strike Freightliner • Legislature bangs gavel on banner year for labor • Drywallers end strike with ratification of new contract • Senate Republicans block vote on labor organizing bill • Del Monte raid puts Portland at center of immigration debate • Unions to push vote-by-mail at national conference of state elections officials • State corrections officers stick with AFSCME union • Local 757 members protest C-TRAN's inadequate offer • Clif Davis elected business manager of IBEW Local 48 • Six unions form Mechanical Allied Crafts, new council created in Oregon • Warehouse fire doesn't douse spirit of Red's Electric owner Jim Ferris
June 15, 2007
Carpenters drywall hangers go on strike • Major bargaining this summer in Oregon • Custodial outsourcing at Portland schools proves costly mistake • Portland School District implements contract on DCU • Labor bills fight for attention as Oregon Legislature winds down • Nurses tell public hearing of their problems at Legacy
June 1, 2007
Afghan-Iraqi Freedom War Memorial has union ties • Labor still reeling from 1981 PATCO strike • Labor lobbyists scramble to push through priority bills • Labor chalks up some election victories • Smith feeling pressure to support Employee Free Choice Act
May 18, 2007
Presidential hopeful visits Portland, Seattle labor • SEIU 49 agrees to no card check organizing • Major reform possible in immigration policy • Labor sees partial gains, modest disappointments at Olympia • Washington Congressman Brian Baird explains positions on union issues • Oregon unions join in push for energy independence • Bend transit contractor drops appeal of ATU union election
May 4, 2007
Fired Portland school custodians settle for $14.5 million • Contractor fires pro-union Bend bus driver • Maintenance crew at Portland Schools votes to authorize strike • Freightliner cutbacks have ripple effects at several local manufacturing suppliers • PDC staffers vote to join AFSCME • NW Oregon Labor Council supports two challengers for Portland School Board • Overtime pay after eight hours will have to wait • In Oregon Legislature, many labor-backed bills advancing • UFCW Local 555 shop stewards hear from Dick Gephardt at annual summit
April 20, 2007
Portland union members tell Congress: 'No new NAFTAs' • Independent union attempts raid on Oregon AFSCME corrections unit • AFSCME 189 suspends labor-management cooperation with Portland mayor • Heart attack claims Laborers Local 296 business manager Little Richard Steward • Labor will honor Oregon workers killed on the job • 5,000 attend NW Carpenters unity rally in Portland • Students try handling 40-ton crane • Portland unions weigh in on proposed charter changes on May ballot • AFSCME Council 75 re-elects Gillespie president; dedicates building to Lucy
April 6, 2007
End of the line for Freightliner trucks • Union wants to put stop to college shift to part-time, lower-paid faculty • Carpenters go high-tech as they prepare for contract talks • Kitzhaber headlines meeting of union retirees • Unions in 7 countries meet in Portland to seek unity in bargaining with Boeing • Nearly 1,000 turn out for Providence Hospital union vigil
March 16, 2007
Letter Carriers deliver message: No privatization • Change to Win unions share organizing ideas • Labor opposes 'strong mayor' form of government • Two central labor councils east of Cascade Range merge • Freightliner Machinists prepare for layoff, bargaining
March 2, 2007
Lobbyist for Labor: AFSCME’s Mary Botkin walks the halls of Salem • Freightliner
counts down to mass layoff at Swan Island • AFSCME files for union election at PDC• Union members ask Portland to take anti-sweatshop action
February 16, 2007
Bill Sizemore: Back in business • Willy Myers elected at Sheet Metal Local 16 • Unionist rub elbows with lawmakers at legislative forum • Labor council re-elects slate of officers
February 2, 2007
Facing the coming labor shortage • Union membership in U.S. falls by 326,000 • Movie fictionalizing 1999 WTO protest films for three days in Seattle • Carpenter organizer gets reprieve before deportation • L.A. lab works to improve odds against asbestos cancer • First U.S.-made streetcars will carry union label • Oregon senator helps scuttle minimum wage bill • PDC Board wants more time to amend new construction wage policy • Portland Public Schools hires former union official for labor relations job • Bus strike looms in Corvallis • AFSCME rallies for new contract at Clackamas County • Kaiser gets okay to build new hospital
January 19, 2007
PDC adopts wage policy for private construction projects • Wyden touts universal health coverage plan at business summit • Freightliner building new manufacturing plant in Mexico • New Democratic majority in House gets busy passing labor bills • Bend bus drivers campaign to join ATU Local 757 • SEIU campaign to organize bus drivers stalls
January 5, 2007
Solving the crisis in health care: 2007 will be the best chance in years • Oregon labor unions gear up ambitious political agenda • Bus operators to take strike vote in Corvallis • Union members in Oregon Legislature get key posts • Labor commissioner lists goals for second term • Custodial Board rejects PPS' proposed hiring plan • In lame duck session, Congress passes anti-worker trade law • What's in that union-made bread? Daughters of Bakers Local 114 members have won four pageant crowns